Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-07
ODD ALASKANS.
ONE TRIBE OF ESQUIDfAUX AS
TALL AS WHITE MEN.
The ATutesr and Some Or Their
Strange. Customs-IvOry Worn
in the Lips Their Super
stitions and Dress.

Dwelling in that portion Of the Terri
tory of Alaska north Of the Arctic circle
Is race Of sturdy, docile, but withal in
! dependent people. These people have
mo name IS race, but designate them
selves as s:mutes. which literally trans-
lated means "a dweller at or upon. For
instance, native born at the village ~
Point Hope (Tig-erach) is Tigerach
mute; one born at Point Barrow is a
Noo-Wuk mute, and SO on, deriving their
classification from the place of nativity.
The popular idea prevails that these
people resemble those living on the east
crn shores of the Arctic Ocean and
Greenland, but while on the Greenland
side the stature Of the natives is small,
upon the Alaskan side numerous meas
surements taken by meof both sexes show
m average height in the males of five
feet eight inches and in the females five
feet four inches. There are many men,
and women, too, q especially Mt Point Bar
row and Point Hope, that measure nearly
six feet, and all well proportional. In
their facial characteristics these people
zpartake Of the Monaghan type. Exam
ination Of skulls and living persons shows
the high prominent cheek bones, the
oblique- shaped eye setting, the elongated
nostrils, and straight, coarse black hair
S0f the Asiatic race. BY reason of their
hardy life their limbs are Of strong
mold. The only malformation that |
observed among them was tendency in
especially IS this K. be noticed in the wo-
men, q circumstance I attribute to their
carrying heavy weights upon the lower
portion of the spine. while the uneven
surface Of the ground forbids walking IN
any level manner. Another reason for
this malformation is the length of time
these people are confined to their boats
when travelling along the coast Through
out the entire Territory Of Alaska and
the Aleutian Islands it is very rare to see
native OF either sex exhibiting perfect
carriage. The Aleuts at the Seal Islands
and Onalaska, both males and females,
resemble in their walk the waddle Of d
duck.
Physically these mutes are very strong,
their powers of endurance are great, and,
rs sequence to the sole aim Of their ex-
istence-i. e. to obtain food their pow
ers of observation and acuteness in hunt
ing, both on land and sea, are strongly
developed. Were it not for the thick
layers Of dirt covering their skin the
complexion Of these people would be AL
most white. Until old age comes on their
teeth are well shaped and sound their
eyes Of deep brown hue, bright and
sparkling, and extremely expressive.
Many cases Of marked good looks can be
seen among them, while intelligent and
pleasing manners are general charactcris-
tics. TheJfamily relations existing be
tween these people are somewhat diff
cult to determine This arises from the
fact that when man takes wife he
may retain her as long as he pleases, or
she may leave him and obtain another
protector. Instances where the woman
never leaves her first protector are rare.
The custom of adoption by purchase or
gift is. another popularity among these
people In common with Asiatic tribes,
the desire for male offspring is great,
not in any way to. perpetuate the family
name, but simply as provision against
old age on the parents part. Adoption
is generally resorted to when the first
wife has no male offspring Garrulity is
prominent trait among the women, who
arecquite on par with their civilized
sisters in retailing gossip. When man
desires to become possessed Of 4 girl to
share his fortunes overtures are made to
her parents and herself. Should acqni-